On Sunday, Bowmanstown residents gathered at the intersection of Lime Street and Spring Street to celebrate the grand opening of the Lime Street Connection Project to the public.

This road project was done to extend Lime Street and allow for quicker access between two parts of town. Notable attendees and speakers included Bowmanstown Borough President William Ravert, Mayor Zach Snyder, Eric Ankiewicz of Ankiewicz Enterprises Inc., state Rep. Doyle Heffley, Carbon County Commissioner Rocky Ahner and Engineer Jessica Rehrig.

The project has been underway for over 14 years now, resulting in a total cost of $838,000.

The Department of Community & Economic Development provided the borough with the Multimodal Transportation Fund grant for $494,636 and the LSA provided an additional $215,000 grant. The rest of the cost was paid for through borough council funds. Once finances were settled last year, Tamaqua-based Ankiewicz Enterprises were contracted to begin work on the project.

President William Ravert stressed the importance of the road project and its impact on the well-being of Bowmanstown residents during his opening speech.

“This project not only provides a second access for the residents of Meadowcrest, but more importantly it allows quicker access for emergency equipment, the fire company and emergency medical services. Instead of a 5-10 minute response time, we can have a 1-3 minute response time for the fire company. If we can save just one home or one life, it is well worth the money spent.”

Mayor Zach Snyder elaborated on the safety benefits the road allows for as well as noting the importance the road project has on unifying the Bowmanstown community as a whole.

“Today our town is finally whole. We are no longer ‘upper town’ and ‘lower town’ and no longer ‘Meadowcrest’ and ‘main town.’ We are one Bowmanstown. Now all residents of Bowmanstown have at least two safe entrances and exits. Fire, police and EMS now have direct lines to all residents, a connection that can save minutes and save lives. Families can now walk safely to both parks, the ball field, our restaurants and stores, and visit their neighbors wherever they may live in town.”

With the cutting of the ribbon, the road was officially declared open for use by the public. To celebrate, one of the Bowmanstown firetrucks was the first vehicle to be driven on the newly opened road. Small finishing touches such as fencing and tree planting are said to be worked on around the road, but they will likely be completed by the end of August.